Definition of an epitope on NS3 recognized by human CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones cross-reactive for dengue virus types 2, 3, and 4.
The role of dengue virus-specific serotype-cross-reactive T lymphocytes in recovery from and pathogenesis of dengue virus infections is not known. In the present paper, we have defined a dengue serotype-cross-reactive epitope recognized by two CD4+ CD8- cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones, JK36 and JK46. These T cell clones were established from the peripheral blood T lymphocytes of a dengue-3-immune donor, using a limiting dilution method. JK36 and JK46 were cross-reactive for dengue virus types 2, 3, and 4, but not for type 1, and recognized the NS3 protein. The smallest synthetic peptide recognized by JK36 was an 8-amino acid peptide that contains amino acids (aa) 226 to 233 (VVAAEMEE) of NS3. The smallest peptide recognized by JK46 was an 11-amino acid peptide that contains aa 224 to 234 (TRVVAAEMEEA). HLA-DR15 was the restriction allele for recognition of these peptides by both JK36 and JK46. This is the first epitope to be defined that is recognized by human CD4+ CTL cross-reactive for dengue virus types 2, 3, and 4.
Kurane
I
I
Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 01655, USA.
Zeng
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L
Brinton
M A
MA
Ennis
F A
FA
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003715:Dengue / Q000821:virology; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D059810:HLA-DR Serological Subtypes; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010449:Peptide Mapping; D020365:RNA Helicases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D014615:Vaccinia / Q000235:genetics; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059810:HLA-DR Serological Subtypes; D020365:RNA Helicases; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C106559:HLA-DR15 antigen; C060028:NS3 protein, flavivirus; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases